Code Blue Trivia Quiz

Answer: Human Immunodeficiency virus

Kaposi sarcoma is one of the major opportunistic diseases that occurs when a person has AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome) which is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The virus is transmitted sexually and through blood transfusions and the disease AIDS was discovered during the 1980s. AIDS related Kaposi sarcoma is an aggressive clinical disease.

The major symptom of the disease is lesions on the skin, while other symptoms include vomiting, nausea, hemoptysis and chest pain.

A biopsy can confirm the diagnosis. Treatment includes antiviral therapy, radiotherapy and laser therapy.

Answer: Leather bottle

The stomach in this condition is called a leather bottle appearance. Gastric carcinoma is one of the most common neoplasms. Most of its variants are malignant and linitis plastica is one of them. Some of the symptoms of gastric carcinoma are dysphagia (difficulty in swallowing), vomiting, hematemesis (vomiting blood) and blood stained or black stools.

Other constitutional symptoms of cancer may be seen like weight loss and loss of appetite. Investigations include CT scan, MRI and X-rays. Treatment would include chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgeries like total gastrectomy and subtotal gastrectomy.

Answer: Fat embolism

Malunion is the condition where the two fractured ends of the bone fail to unite after a period of proper immobilization and care. Myositis ossificans happens when there is calcification at sites of muscle injury during healing. Osteomyelitis can be due to the infection of the fracture sites due to improper care. All these are complications that can occur long after the fracture has happened and are not life threatening.

Fat embolism can occur soon after a traumatic incident and is life threatening. It presents as increased heart rate (tachycardia), increased respiratory rate (tachypnea) and high temperature. A pathognomonic sign of fat embolism syndrome is the presence of a petechial rash on chest, neck, axilla, oral mucosa and shoulder areas. All this occurs due to the damage that is caused by free fatty acids that injure the cells of the blood vessels and respiratory failure is usually the cause of death. It is important to immobilize a person after a fracture has occurred. The person must then be transported to a hospital where he or she should be monitored and treated appropriately.

Answer: Hydrophobia

Hydrophobia means the fear of water and is one of the symptoms of the deadly disease rabies. Rabies is transmitted by a bite of animals like dogs and bats. It is caused by the rabies virus, which is a lyssavirus. The disease starts off with symptoms, that mimic flu, within a few weeks of the bite. Later, more serious complications develop like confusion, insomnia and sometimes paralysis. Death usually occurs after extreme symptoms have occurred as there is no cure. Louis Pasteur was the pioneer of the rabies vaccine. Now the vaccines can be used for prophylaxis purpose and after a dog bite.

Answer: Alcohol

Wernicke's encephalopathy is a serious disorder of neurological origin that has a deficiency of thiamine (vitamin B1) as its main cause. This deficiency of thiamine can in turn be caused by alcoholism. Other conditions like extreme starvation, hyperemesis gravidarum (excess vomiting during pregnancy) and AIDS can also lead to thiamine deficiency leading to Wernicke's encephalopathy.

The symptoms of this condition are confusion, ataxia (gait abnormality) and ophthalmoplegia (eye weakness and paralysis).

Other symptoms include hearing loss, dysphagia or difficulty in eating, amnesia and psychosis. Treatment includes administration of thiamine as soon as possible. Hypoglycemia must be controlled by giving glucose.

Answer: Pregnant women

It is one of the hypertensive conditions that complicate pregnancy and is one of the severe complications of another condition called preeclampsia. Eclampsia is characterized by the presence of symptoms of preeclampsia and also the presence of seizures or coma. Features of preeclampsia include hypertension and high levels of protein in urine (proteinuria).

These conditions have several effects on the growing fetus in the womb such as growth retardation and reduced oxygen supply. Treatment of eclampsia includes control of seizures with drugs like magnesium sulfate, managing blood pressure and conducting a safe delivery of the baby. Eclampsia is one of the causes of maternal death but its incidence has reduced after the improvement in obstetric care over the years.

Answer: Granite

Granite has a lot of quartz, which is a very common form of crystalline silica. Inhalation of dust and smoke that contains crystalline silica is the cause of silicosis. Silicosis is a type of pneumoconiosis, which is the term used for diseases that are caused by inhaling dust for a long duration of time. Particles of silica get ingested by cells in the alveoli of the lungs and this starts an inflammatory process that causes damage. Symptoms include chest pain and cough. Radiological studies are important to diagnose this disease.

A CT scan is more helpful than an X-ray. Steroids can be given in the treatment of this disease. Exposure to silica must be stopped and infections must be prevented. If working in conditions where you are exposed to silica, it is important to take protective measures like a face mask and goggles.

Answer: Water

Typhoid fever is an infectious disease which is caused by the organisms Salmonella typhi and Salmonella paratyphi A and B. It is usually transmitted by eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. Symptoms of this disease include high fever, increased heart rate (bradycardia), rose spots on the skin of the chest and other places, diarrhea with a characteristic smell and delirium.

This disease can be fatal if not treated. Diagnosis can be made by testing the blood, urine or stools. There is a test called the Widal test that is also useful. Treatment includes antibiotics like ciprofloxacin or a cephalosporin, while other drugs like ampicillin and chloramphenicol can also be used.

Answer: Lungs

This disease is a genetic one. It is an autosomal recessive disorder and is usually diagnosed at around six months after birth. Many systems in the human body are disturbed because of this condition. Some of the gastrointestinal symptoms include abdominal distension, meconium ileus and intestinal obstruction. Respiratory symptoms may be cough, wheezing and breathlessness. Sweat chloride test is used for the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis and a CT scan can be carried out. Medications that can be given for cystic fibrosis are bronchodilators, anti inflammatory agents and mucolytics. Death in most cystic fibrosis cases is due to respiratory failure.

Answer: Copper

In this disease, copper gets deposited in organs like the liver and brain. The most common feature of Wilson disease is hepatic (liver) dysfunction, while hepatitis and cirrhosis may be seen. Some of the neuropsychiatric symptoms include difficulty in speaking, ataxia, changes in behavior and impulsiveness. Copper gets deposited in the eyes causing the formation of characteristic Kayser-Fleischer rings. Serum ceruloplasmin levels must always be checked if Wilson disease is suspected and in those having the condition, it will always be less than normal. Treatment includes long term administration of chelating agents like penicillamine.